[RP TownTalk] Fwd: help East west Highway

Tue Jun 8 15:53:09 UTC 2010

This morning I sent this note to Justin Ross our State delegate.  This  is 
the reply I got.  Is anyone willing to take on this project?  We  need the 
town to get involved as they need to make the request.
Our road should look as good as those in College Park and Greenbelt and we  
need to do something about it.  I believe the town said this road is a  
State responsibility.  Let's get them to be responsible.  Who is  willing to 
work on this and who in the town gov't  will help?
Audrey

____________________________________
 From: Justin.Ross at house.state.md.us
To: ABragg7393 at aol.com
Sent:  6/8/2010 11:13:44 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: RE: help

Audrey, 
Thanks for  writing. There are a few things to consider when it comes to 
roadway  beautification, the first being who maintains the road.  It could be 
the  municipality, county or State.  Often times those roads maintained by 
the  former have much more landscaping and are better cared for.   
However, the  State Highway Administration (SHA), who maintains east-west 
highway, does  offer programs for roadway beautification that the town or 
other interested  parties could look into: 
Under the  _Partnership Planting Program_ 
(mip://04cb7f20/Partnership%20Planting%20Program:%20http:/www.marylandroads.com/Index.aspx?PageId=321&d=104)  
the SHA will  examine the feasibility of a beautification project in the 
area upon request  and provide interested parties (usually a local government 
or community group)  with a design.  If the plan is approved by affected 
parties the SHA will  work with those who requested the project to implement 
it.  Usually this  means SHA will provide the supplies and community members 
will volunteer to do  the labor and maintain the site. The above link has 
more information about the  program.   
SHA also has a _wildflower program_ 
(http://www.marylandroads.com/Index.aspx?PageId=143&d=100)  that could be  implemented into certain areas of the 
highway. Additionally, they also have an  adopt/sponsor the road program that 
the town could look into.   
If any of these  options interest you, let me know and we could discuss how 
to go about  pursuing them.  Also, if you ever feel as though maintenance 
on a  particular State managed road is long overdue. Please feel free to let 
us  know.  The SHA will mow or make repairs upon request.  In fact, if  you 
know the location of the broken trees, I’d be happy to call the  maintenance 
program today to see to it that it is addressed.    
I hope this email  was helpful.  I look forward to working with you to 
beautify rt. 410!   
Thanks! 
Gia 

________________________ 
Gianna  Franzone 
Legislative  Aide  
Office  of Delegate Justin D. Ross  
Chief  Deputy Majority Whip 
6  Bladen St. Rm 151 Annapolis, MD 21401  
(301)  858-3652

From:  ABragg7393 at aol.com [mailto:ABragg7393 at aol.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, June  08, 2010 9:59 AM
To: Ross, Justin Delegate
Subject:  help

Hi  Justin,

Hope  all is well with  you.  I wonder if you would help me with  
something.  I went to the Riverdale Park Town meeting last night and they  were 
passing an ordinance about height of grass and keeping the neighborhoods  neat 
and groomed.  I am all for that, but I asked if they could include  public 
areas in that ordinance, since the East West Highway (410) looks like a  
ghetto.  They said they had no control over the state and they could not  issue 
the state a citation, since the state is where they get their  charter.  I 
said that the median strip has had very little care and looks  really bad when 
you drive through.  Trees that were destroyed during the  winter storms have 
not been attended too.  When "someone" comes in to cut  the grass/weeds 
they do a poor job and it still doesn't look groomed.  I  see on Kenilworth 
Ave. near the Beltway (Greenbelt) they have planted flowers  and trees and it 
is a pleasant sight.  On Adelphi Road near the golf  course (College Park) 
the landscaping is fabulous.  The East West Highway  is the main road into our 
town here in Riverdale Park and it says something  about us...Right now it 
says, "keep going"  you don't want to stop  here.  Years ago when they put 
the highway in it divided our town.   The town made a sacrifice for all the 
other little towns to have the  convenience of that highway.  Now the other 
towns are being taken care of  and our town is looking poor and unkempt.  
Please help with this, since  our Mayor and council feel they can do nothing.

Thank  you Justin,

Audrey  Bragg

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